Condiciones de vida y calidad de vida

Mensajes políticos clave

Las principales conclusiones de la investigación de Eurofound sirven de referencia para que los responsables políticos aborden algunas de las cuestiones clave en este ámbito.

• La percepción de tensiones sociales incide de manera especialmente negativa en la confianza en las instituciones, mientras que la percepción de la calidad en los servicios públicos es un factor clave para una mayor confianza en las instituciones.
• Se precisa una mayor prestación de cuidados de larga duración, con mayor flexibilidad. Debería facilitarse más atención y asistencia a domicilio, especialmente en aquellos Estados miembros de la UE con ingresos más bajos.
• El acceso rápido a la atención primaria, la asistencia social y los cuidados de larga duración puede desencadenar una intervención temprana y un seguimiento de las necesidades cambiantes y prevenir así el incremento de los problemas relacionados con los cuidados de larga duración.
• Los problemas de salud mental están aumentando en el caso de los jóvenes, aunque no está claro si esto se debe a una mayor incidencia o a un mayor grado de sensibilización y diagnóstico. La salud mental está estrechamente relacionada con otras cuestiones vinculadas a la juventud y puede ser tanto resultado de desigualdades como una fuente de desigualdad en sí misma. Entre los factores de riesgo que guardan relación con la salud mental figuran la discapacidad y las enfermedades de larga duración, los problemas familiares, los problemas de relación con homólogos y el uso intensivo de las redes sociales.
• Si bien en líneas generales los niveles de confianza y de cohesión social se recuperaron en la UE después de la crisis financiera, la aparición de la COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto significativo en el bienestar de los países más afectados por la pandemia.
• Los jóvenes se están convirtiendo en uno de los grupos más perjudicados por el confinamiento: aparte de los desempleados, el grupo de los jóvenes es el que registra los niveles más bajos de bienestar, a pesar de que se ha observado cierta mejora desde el inicio de la pandemia. Aunque la satisfacción vital y el optimismo han aumentado desde abril de 2020, los jóvenes continúan sintiéndose excluidos de la sociedad y siguen registrando el mayor riesgo de depresión, lo que demuestra que las restricciones del confinamiento les afectan más.
• La adopción de medidas para reducir los riesgos para la salud mental de los desempleados y los jóvenes, como consecuencia de la COVID-19, será esencial en caso de que se produzcan nuevas olas del coronavirus. La prestación de apoyo específico para permitir que las personas que buscan trabajo puedan encauzar su situación y hacer frente al impacto de la pandemia, así como garantizar que los jóvenes puedan participar plenamente en la sociedad, deben formar parte de las medidas políticas en curso.
• La crisis de la COVID-19 ha erosionado los niveles de optimismo y ha afectado en mayor medida a la conciliación de la vida familiar y la vida profesional de las mujeres que de los hombres. Solventar este daño será esencial para garantizar que las mujeres no paguen de forma desproporcionada por la pandemia.
• Mantener la confianza de los ciudadanos en las instituciones nacionales y europeas debe seguir siendo un objetivo fundamental en tiempos de crisis, ya que el cumplimiento de las medidas de control de la COVID-19 depende en gran medida de los niveles de confianza en las instituciones y las recomendaciones de los expertos científicos. El aumento de los niveles de confianza en las instituciones observado entre los encuestados que se beneficiaron de medidas de apoyo también envía un mensaje claro a las administraciones nacionales y a la UE.

During 2021–2024, Eurofound’s research will provide an important insight into the challenges and prospects in the area of living conditions and quality of life in the EU and the role played by various initiatives aimed at alleviating the social hardship of various groups of citizens. Of particular interest are the implications for older people and care needs, youth and their social inclusion and social mobility, and the varying consequences of the crisis on men and women.

Public services across the EU played a major role in addressing the COVID-19 crisis while facing significant challenges and they will be assessed in greater detail, focusing on issues such as quality, access and affordability. As previous findings have shown, the crisis has had disproportionate effects on certain groups according to age, care responsibilities and work-life balance, and Eurofound will analyse this further.

In coordination with the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Eurofound intends to research the multidimensional gender gap by investigating the impact on men and women of the COVID-19 crisis in terms of employment participation, material living conditions and well-being – in order to identify the differences and assess its effect on gender gaps.

Eurofound’s research aims to assist policy action addressing the challenges and opportunities for the EU and national levels in the area of living conditions and quality of life. In particular, it will monitor the impact of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic crisis by providing knowledge on status, trends, risks, as well as ways to improve living conditions in the EU. Eurofound will focus on identifying and analysing pressing issues for the most vulnerable groups, specifically older citizens and young people. Eurofound will also inform policymakers by producing evidence on trends and drivers in relation to the delivery of public services, also linking in, for example, with the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The Agency’s work plan is aligned with the European Commission’s political guidelines over the next four years, directly feeding into a number of key policy areas aimed at creating a strong social Europe. In particular, the research will support policy initiatives and activities linked with the implementation of the European Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025, the Youth Guarantee, the Child Guarantee and the European Semester and its country-specific recommendations.

• European Commission: Priorities 2019–2024: An economy that works for people
• European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: Promoting our European way of life
• European Commission: Priorities 2019–2024: A new push for European democracy

In 2024, Eurofound continues to monitor trends in living conditions and quality of life, against the backdrop of the health-related and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implications of the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, and increases in costs of living. Building on the various rounds of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, as well as on data gathered in 2023, the Agency investigates the impact of these challenges on the living conditions of Europeans.

The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) commences in 2024, including some questions on working conditions and living conditions relevant to the aftermath of COVID-19. The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) follows in 2026 using lessons drawn from the 2024 EWCS.

Research concludes on identifying groups not covered by social protection, due to coverage gaps and non-take-up of minimum income and unemployment schemes. It also looks at adequacy of these benefits, digitalisation of application procedures, linked service entitlements and sanctioning measures. Eurofound also publishes its findings on EU citizens’ rights and opportunities to live independently. It analyses the situation faced by various vulnerable groups and provides an overview of measures that facilitate family- and community-based care and support in the Member States.

Building on previous work on young people, research concludes on the life and prospects of young people in the post-pandemic era. Using new data collected in 2023, this research assesses the long-term impact of the pandemic on this group, looking into changes in the social situation of young people, as well as their quality of life, mental health and future prospects.

Analysis of the monitoring framework of the European Child Guarantee comes to an end in 2024, while new research starts to support national governments and the EU institutions in the implementation and evaluation of the Child Guarantee since it came into force. This work investigates the Member States’ levels of performance and their disparities, building on its previous work on convergence. It focuses on the workforce needed to deliver the Child Guarantee in areas of early childhood education and care, education, healthcare and other relevant sectors.

Considering the importance of care provision in EU societies, new research investigates informal care provision in the EU, the challenges faced by informal caregivers, and the measures in place to support them. This research considers care provided to people of all ages, while taking into consideration the diversity among informal carers. 

Eurofound launches new research on mental health services, investigating trends in and prevalence of mental health problems for different groups and how these needs are met in various countries in light of the pandemic and the arrival of Ukrainian refugees.